Burial casket



- NOV. 17, 1936. W. 1 @OUR-11N 2,061,461

BURIAL GASKET Filed June 18, 1955 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATE PATENT CFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in burial caskets, of the type having means for sealing the lid to the casket for the exclusion of air, moisture and the elements.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a burial casket or other container with a sealed closure which is accomplished by means of melting a soft metal around the marginal edge of the cover and container by means of an electric heating element built in the cover or closure and container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a joint between a lid and a casket including a V-shaped trough formed around the open side of the casket or container which is adapted to receive a V-shaped rib carried by the lid oi the casket or container and means is provided between the groove and rib for sealing the container or casket against the entrance oi air, as well as all moistures.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electric heating element in the V- shaped rib and in the V-shaped trough or groove whereby current may be applied to both heating elements to cause the fusion of the soft metal strip placed within the groove.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for creating a vacuum within the container or casket by means of a suction pump f having connection with a valved pipe communicating with the. interior of the casket or container and by the inter-position of a suction responsive meter interposed between the suction pump and the valved pipe for determining posi sible leakage in the joint between the lid or cover of the casket in order to insure an air-tight casket or container having high preservation properties.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a transparent window in the lid or cover oi the casket for determining the condition of the contents of the receptacle upon which the lid or cover is placed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken with the drawing wherein,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the casket embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a similar View showing a portion of the casket lid broken away to clearly illustrate the groove formed in the marginal open side of the casket;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the casket and lid illustrating in dotted lines the location of the electric heating element for fusing the soft metal interposed between the lid and casket;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the casket and lid illustrating the opposite end and showing the valved pipe for connection with the suction device;

Figure 5 is a` vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure fi, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating in cross-section the formation of the groove and rib connection having the electric heating element carried thereby; and

Figure 6 is a modified form of the invention illustrated in vertical cross-section similar to Figure 5 and showing a strip of fusible metal interposed between the groove and lid which is substantially identical in cross sectional shape therewith.

in the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the reference character 5 will generally be employed to designate a casket preferably formed of sheet metal of a rust-prooi nature and having an inturned edge 6 forming a marginal edge which terminates in a groove l, V-shaped in cross-section and is return bent as at 8 to form a downwardly extending ange 9 presented to the center portion of the V-shaped groove l. A anged portion IIJ integral with the inwardly extending flange 9 forms a chamber in the lower portion of the marginal groove l.

Mounted within the chamber formed by the flange Ill and lower portion of the groove is an electric heating element II surrounded by insulating material I2 such as asbestos cr other heat or nre resisting material.

The lid comprises a sheet metal stamped cover I3 preferably formed of non-corrosive metal having the edges turned inwardly as at I4 to provide a supporting surface I5 which extends inwardly a short distance and is bent downwardly as at i6 terminating in a at portion I'I and extending upwardly in an angular fashion as at I8 to provide a complementary rib V-shaped in cross-section adapted to snugly iit within the opening of the V-shaped groove 'I as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6.

An electric heating element 20 is mounted in the lower portion of the V-shaped tongue I6 and extends completely around the interior of the tongue as shown in Figure 5. The electric heating element 2li is surrounded by a nre-resistant material preferably asbestos and is enclosed within the tongue I5 by means of a plate 2| suitably disposed within the tongue ior retaining the heat created by the electric heating element within the area surrounding the tongue I6.

The cover I3 is provided with an opening 22 adjacent one end thereof and the area surrounding the opening 22 is depressed as at 23 for receiving the pane of transparent material or glass 24. A frame composed of soft metal 25 may be received Within the recess 23 and the edges of the window 24 may be grooves as at 26 for receiving the soft metal 25 and completely locking the pane or plate in place.

One end of the casket is provided with a reess 2l in which is mounted a valve 28 having a pipe 28a communicating with the interior of the casket and a screw threaded fitting 28h is provided on the valve 28 for connection with a vacuum pump 30 by means of a pipe 3|. Interposed between the valve 28 and vacuum device 30 is a meter 32 adapted to determine the degree of vacuum created in the casket after the lid has been put in place and sealed.

The ends of the electric heating elements II and 20 may be connected by suitable wires (not shown) to appliance plugs 28C also contained within the recessed portion 2'I of the end wall. A cover 28d may be provided for the recess. 2l for obscuring from vision the parts contained therein.

Formed on the underside of the marginal strip 6 of the casket is an annular boss 50 adapted to receive a vial containing a gas or chemicals for creating the gas for the purpose of preserving the contents of the casket or container. A cork 52 is mounted in the vial 5I and may be connected to an arm 53 of an operating piece 54 mounted in the recess 21 as by means of a piece of string or other flexible material 55 so that as the operating piece 54 is rotated, the arm 53 will release the cork 52 and allow the contents of the vial 5I to saturate the contents of the container or casket 5.

In Figure 5 it will be noted that strips of fusible metal such as lead 33 are placed upon the shelf II) before the cover is positioned over the casket so that an electric current when applied to the electric heating elements II and 20 will fuse the metal and cause the same to ow within the groove 'I and around the side portion of the tongue I6.

In Figure 6, the construction is identical with the exception that in lieu of the fusible strips 33, a complementary shaped strip 34 is placed within the groove 'I and said strip is V-shaped in cross-section and is provided with lateral portions 35 and 36 adapted to rest upon the shelf 6 and the return-bent portion 8 on opposite sides of the groove 1 forms the casket open edge.

For a consideration of the operation, it will be assumed that the cover is removed and the article or objects to be preserved are placed within the receptacle or casket 5 and then the strips 33 or the complementary shaped fusible lead strip 34 is placed in the groove I after which the cover or lid I3 is placed in position so that the tongue IB will be received within the groove 1. After the lid or cover is in place, current is passed through the electric heating elements II and 20 to effect the fusing of the soft metal 33 and 34 thereby forming a sealed joint around the marginal edge of the casket.

After the casket is thus sealed against the intrusion of air or moisture, a vacuum device 30 is connected to the pipe 28h and the air is withdrawn from the casket thereby creating a vacuum within the casket. After this vacuum has been created in the casket, the vacuum device 30 is brought to rest and the indicator 32 will giv a visible signal so that the operator may determine whether the casket will exclude air. If the indicator shows a decrease of vacuum or an increase in atmospheric pressure, the operator may again apply an electric current to the heating Y,elements II and 20 until the indicator needle gives a visible signal that the vacuum remains constant within the casket or container.

Should it be desired for advantageous reasons to remove the cover I3 after the contents of the casket have been stored for a considerable length of time, electric current may be again applied to the electric heating elements Il and 20 to fuse the soft metal 33 or 34 so that the lid may be removed and access may be gained to the contents of the receptacle or casket.

It is obvious that the lid may be removed and placed in position as many times as desired without affecting the use of the casket and it is proposed to seal the screw threaded end of the valve 28 with a lead cap or plug for further insuring against the entrance of air to the interior of the casket or receptacle 5.

It will be understood that there are two complete electrical heating elements I I and 20 forming two complete electric wire circuits which is for the reason that if one circuit or heating element becomes injured or fails to operate or rise in temperature, then the other element will liberate enough heat to liquefy the metal binder either when originally sealing the casket or when it is to be re-opened.

It is also obvious and it is to be understood that various forms and changes may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention and that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same.

I claim:

1. A sealing joint for a burial receptacle wherein the latter includes two intertting parts of tongue and groove configuration, the tongue and groove portions having chambers, a fusible sealing material disposed in the groove and adapted to contact both tongue and groove with the latter in assembled condition, and a heating element disposed in each of said chambers and thereby spaced from said fusible sealing material whereby the material forming both tongue and groove is adapted to have heat applied thereto upon energization of said heating elements thereby insuring of heat transmission to Said fusible sealing material from a plurality of directions to provide an effective simultaneous union of said fusible sealing material to both tongue and groove,

2. A sealing joint for a burial receptacle wherein the latter includes two interfitting parts of tongue and groove configuration, the tongue and groove portions having chambers, a fusible sealing material disposed in the groove and adapted to contact both tongue and groove with the latter in assembled condition, and a heating element disposed in each of said chambers and thereby spaced from said fusible sealing material whereby the material forming both tongue and groove is adapted to have heat applied thereto upon energization of said heating elements thereby insuring of heat transmission to said fusible sealing material from a plurality of directions to provide an effective simultaneous union of said fusible sealing material to both tongue and groove, said heating elements being independent for individual communication with a source of energy whereby unsealing of the joint may be effected by one heating element upon failure of the other heating element to operate.

WILLIAM J. GOUHIN. 

